CIBC and WWF bring environmental education into Northern Classrooms

WWF
Yellowknife, September 30, 2014 – Thanks to the generous donation of $150,000 from CIBC, WWF-Canada in partnership with Ecology North is thrilled to announce the launch of a new environmental curriculum for Northern schools.

CIBC’s funding supports the expansion of WWF’s Schools for a Living Planet resources for students across the Northwest Territories and beyond, including curriculum for Grades 3 to eight on issues such as climate change, pollution and northern waters. 

Developed with input from NWT government, teachers and WWF and Ecology North experts, the new curriculum fills a gap in northern resources by providing locally relevant lesson plans to engage students in northern specific environmental education, with glossary terms translated into official languages of the NWT. With themes ranging from climate change and Arctic issues to Northern waters and terrestrial ecosystems, the curriculum was also presented to teachers in Yellowknife today at a gathering of 900 members of the Northwest Territories Teacher’s Association.

Quotes:

“With a focus on education, CIBC is proud to support the adaptation of this curriculum so that educators and students across the North will have access to tools and resources relevant to northern culture, with glossary terms in their official languages.”

Mike Stevenson, Senior Vice-President & Region Head, BC & Northern Territories, CIBC

“This opportunity to expand culturally-relevant environmental education to northern classrooms is a very special one and will help connect hundreds of students to their own regions, watersheds, species and communities.”

David Miller, President/CEO WWF-Canada

“Ecology North recognizes that teachers and students in the Northwest Territories have strong connections to the land and water. The Schools for a Living Planet program will provide northern educators with the tools they need to support youth in becoming environmental stewards on northern issues.”

Rose-Marie Jackson, Education Program Manager, Ecology North